mc_nibbles
New member
For some PC users peripherals can be a sort of afterthought. A $5 mouse, $5 keyboard, and a $15 set of speakers. Though in most cases you don't get a whole lot more quality or performance when you spend a little more on a mouse or keyboard, speakers are a different story.
Today I'm going to review my personal alternative to those $15 no-name speakers, the Logitech Z313 Speaker System.
Introduction and Specs
The Logitech Z313 Speaker system is a 2.1 stereo 25 watt sound system with two 1.75" diameter satellite speakers and a 4" diameter sub woofer that provide big balanced sound at a reasonable price of around $40. It comes with plenty of cable length and a wired control pod that you can place in an easy-to-reach place on your desk.
Specs
Total RMS power: 25 watts
Peak power: 50 watts
Frequency response: 48 Hz–20 kHz (+/- 3dB)
Dimensions (W x L x H):
Sub woofer: 8.6 inches by 5.9 inches by 9 inches (22.0 cm by 15.0 cm by 22.8 cm)
Satellites: 3.2 inches by 3.5 inches by 5.75 inches (8.1 cm by 8.9 cm by 14.6 cm)
what comes in the box
2 satellites
1 sub woofer
Control pod
User documentation
Look and Feel
The Logitech Z313 Speaker System is very sleek and modern looking. Overall I think it will go well with a lot of different hardware and peripherals.
The satellites have a very organic and simple shape to them, and the black and silver color scheme can be a great compliment to most set ups. Most of the material is matte while the relief port is a glossy plastic that seems to be more resistant to scratching than most, though I usually only touch it when I'm dusting.
Each satellite has four rubber feet to help keep them in place. The cabling running to each satellite is permanently attached and they both combine into a single stereo 3.5mm jack that plugs into the back of the sub woofer. The cabling seems sturdy enough while also being quite flexible, which makes hiding cables on the desk much easier.
The Sub woofer is nice and compact, though it doesn't really share the same organic style as the satellites. It's very geometrical in design, a simple cube with a beveled edge on top. This isn't really an issue in my opinion, as they still complement each other very well. It's made from a composite board and covered in a textured black material, while the relief port is made of a glossy plastic once again.
The sub woofers speaker itself is on the bottom of the unit, and only makes up a small portion of the base. This is because the rear or the unit contains the electronics.
On the back of the sub woofer you have the speaker output for the satellites, power cable, and control pod wiring. I like that they provided a standardized jack for the speakers instead of something proprietary or hard-wired because it makes setup easier and provides you with the ability to extend the cable length. The power cord and cable for the control pod are both long enough for most if not all desk setups.
The control pod itself is pretty simple, and once again isn't as organic as the satellites. the power button is easy to press and the green LED indicates when the system is on. The volume dial on the left side of the pod has quite the range, making it easy to fine tune the volume.
On the front of the pod there is a 3.5mm headphone jack which is a great convenience option. The only thing I do not like about the headphone jack is that it is simple a pass through, the volume control on the pod does not work for the headphone jack.
You will see that there are two cables running to and from this control pod. This is because it is used as a mid-way point between your system and the sub itself. The right cable is a reasonably long 3.5mm male connector serving as the system's input, and the one on the left feeds the input from your system and the controls over to the sub, which is essentially the brains of the system. This idea works well for most setups, but it might be a problem for some. I think having the control pod separate would give it more flexibility, though I still have plenty of cable to place the pod anywhere I please.
Subjective Performance
The Z313 speaker system proved to provide decent audio quality considering the total system wattage and size. The overall sound quality is pleasing to listen to, and even though the satellite speakers are only 45mm in size they still have good separation and a really nice surrounding sound. They also have a wider range of frequency response than I expected, putting out highs, mids, and even most of the lows.
The sub woofer is definitely a major component to this system even with that in mind. It provides a nice acoustic vibration to the area surrounding my desk, and when I'm not so close to the satellites it makes up for the little bit of bass they lack. Overall it gives the system a nice listening range, you don't have to be close or far for it to sound good. I do wish they would've included a sub woofer adjustment so that you could increase or decrease it's volume independently. I think it's tuned just right, but some users might find it doesn't have enough oomph for them.
As for volume, this system gives you quite a bit for 25w. I can safely say I have never felt the need to turn it much passed half way in normal use. When it comes to sound quality across the volume range, this system is OK, but it's not great. It doesn't provide much bass at or below 10% volume, and provides a bit too much bass when above 70% volume. When turned all the way up there is a noticeable distortion in both the sub and satellites. The separation degrades after about 70% volume, but the surrounding effect still stays. It's definitely better than a two-speaker stereo system, or even some of the other budget 2.1 systems, but it's far from perfect. Overall I would say 60% of the volume spectrum is great, while the other 40% is just OK.
When using the headphone jack I was disappointed to find out that the volume knob does not control the volume. The pod acts as a simple pass through, which is nice to have right on the desk wherever you want, but it would've also been nice to be able to control the volume on the pod.
Conclusion
The design of the Z313 system fits with most if not all desk setups, with two 23" monitors and lots of other hardware on and under my desk I was easily able to wire everything up without the need for extension cords or cables. It looks good sitting next to all of my other peripherals and desk clutter.
The sound quality is good for the price, but it does leave a bit to be desired. I wish that at lower volumes there was a bit more bass, and at higher volumes it was lower. The other volume levels all provide well separated audio and surrounding sound with a pleasing consumer sound profile.
I'm still a bit upset about the headphone jack not having any sort of volume control, but then again it's not a deal breaking feature. Being able to place the control pod anywhere I want rather than adjusting the volume on one of the satellites is hard to beat.
I also think that separating the control pod and the input for the speaker system would've been a better design decision, even though it would add more cables. Even with the substantial amount of length between sub woofer, pod, and 3.5mm male input, there could be a situation where a user might not be able to put the pod where they want because it's either to far from the sub or too far from the source.
Overall the Z313 speaker system proves to be a solid budget 2.1 speaker system option. The overall sound quality is good, the build quality is solid, and it's got plenty of features. If you're one of those users who went with the $15-$20 no-name speaker systems, I urge you to give the Z313 system a shot. You're ears with thank you.
Pricing and availability:
Amazon: $36.19
B&H Photo Video: $36.99
Tiger Direct: $39.99
Today I'm going to review my personal alternative to those $15 no-name speakers, the Logitech Z313 Speaker System.
Introduction and Specs
The Logitech Z313 Speaker system is a 2.1 stereo 25 watt sound system with two 1.75" diameter satellite speakers and a 4" diameter sub woofer that provide big balanced sound at a reasonable price of around $40. It comes with plenty of cable length and a wired control pod that you can place in an easy-to-reach place on your desk.
Specs
Total RMS power: 25 watts
Peak power: 50 watts
Frequency response: 48 Hz–20 kHz (+/- 3dB)
Dimensions (W x L x H):
Sub woofer: 8.6 inches by 5.9 inches by 9 inches (22.0 cm by 15.0 cm by 22.8 cm)
Satellites: 3.2 inches by 3.5 inches by 5.75 inches (8.1 cm by 8.9 cm by 14.6 cm)
what comes in the box
2 satellites
1 sub woofer
Control pod
User documentation
Look and Feel
The Logitech Z313 Speaker System is very sleek and modern looking. Overall I think it will go well with a lot of different hardware and peripherals.
The satellites have a very organic and simple shape to them, and the black and silver color scheme can be a great compliment to most set ups. Most of the material is matte while the relief port is a glossy plastic that seems to be more resistant to scratching than most, though I usually only touch it when I'm dusting.
Each satellite has four rubber feet to help keep them in place. The cabling running to each satellite is permanently attached and they both combine into a single stereo 3.5mm jack that plugs into the back of the sub woofer. The cabling seems sturdy enough while also being quite flexible, which makes hiding cables on the desk much easier.
The Sub woofer is nice and compact, though it doesn't really share the same organic style as the satellites. It's very geometrical in design, a simple cube with a beveled edge on top. This isn't really an issue in my opinion, as they still complement each other very well. It's made from a composite board and covered in a textured black material, while the relief port is made of a glossy plastic once again.
The sub woofers speaker itself is on the bottom of the unit, and only makes up a small portion of the base. This is because the rear or the unit contains the electronics.
On the back of the sub woofer you have the speaker output for the satellites, power cable, and control pod wiring. I like that they provided a standardized jack for the speakers instead of something proprietary or hard-wired because it makes setup easier and provides you with the ability to extend the cable length. The power cord and cable for the control pod are both long enough for most if not all desk setups.
The control pod itself is pretty simple, and once again isn't as organic as the satellites. the power button is easy to press and the green LED indicates when the system is on. The volume dial on the left side of the pod has quite the range, making it easy to fine tune the volume.
On the front of the pod there is a 3.5mm headphone jack which is a great convenience option. The only thing I do not like about the headphone jack is that it is simple a pass through, the volume control on the pod does not work for the headphone jack.
You will see that there are two cables running to and from this control pod. This is because it is used as a mid-way point between your system and the sub itself. The right cable is a reasonably long 3.5mm male connector serving as the system's input, and the one on the left feeds the input from your system and the controls over to the sub, which is essentially the brains of the system. This idea works well for most setups, but it might be a problem for some. I think having the control pod separate would give it more flexibility, though I still have plenty of cable to place the pod anywhere I please.
Subjective Performance
The Z313 speaker system proved to provide decent audio quality considering the total system wattage and size. The overall sound quality is pleasing to listen to, and even though the satellite speakers are only 45mm in size they still have good separation and a really nice surrounding sound. They also have a wider range of frequency response than I expected, putting out highs, mids, and even most of the lows.
The sub woofer is definitely a major component to this system even with that in mind. It provides a nice acoustic vibration to the area surrounding my desk, and when I'm not so close to the satellites it makes up for the little bit of bass they lack. Overall it gives the system a nice listening range, you don't have to be close or far for it to sound good. I do wish they would've included a sub woofer adjustment so that you could increase or decrease it's volume independently. I think it's tuned just right, but some users might find it doesn't have enough oomph for them.
As for volume, this system gives you quite a bit for 25w. I can safely say I have never felt the need to turn it much passed half way in normal use. When it comes to sound quality across the volume range, this system is OK, but it's not great. It doesn't provide much bass at or below 10% volume, and provides a bit too much bass when above 70% volume. When turned all the way up there is a noticeable distortion in both the sub and satellites. The separation degrades after about 70% volume, but the surrounding effect still stays. It's definitely better than a two-speaker stereo system, or even some of the other budget 2.1 systems, but it's far from perfect. Overall I would say 60% of the volume spectrum is great, while the other 40% is just OK.
When using the headphone jack I was disappointed to find out that the volume knob does not control the volume. The pod acts as a simple pass through, which is nice to have right on the desk wherever you want, but it would've also been nice to be able to control the volume on the pod.
Conclusion
The design of the Z313 system fits with most if not all desk setups, with two 23" monitors and lots of other hardware on and under my desk I was easily able to wire everything up without the need for extension cords or cables. It looks good sitting next to all of my other peripherals and desk clutter.
The sound quality is good for the price, but it does leave a bit to be desired. I wish that at lower volumes there was a bit more bass, and at higher volumes it was lower. The other volume levels all provide well separated audio and surrounding sound with a pleasing consumer sound profile.
I'm still a bit upset about the headphone jack not having any sort of volume control, but then again it's not a deal breaking feature. Being able to place the control pod anywhere I want rather than adjusting the volume on one of the satellites is hard to beat.
I also think that separating the control pod and the input for the speaker system would've been a better design decision, even though it would add more cables. Even with the substantial amount of length between sub woofer, pod, and 3.5mm male input, there could be a situation where a user might not be able to put the pod where they want because it's either to far from the sub or too far from the source.
Overall the Z313 speaker system proves to be a solid budget 2.1 speaker system option. The overall sound quality is good, the build quality is solid, and it's got plenty of features. If you're one of those users who went with the $15-$20 no-name speaker systems, I urge you to give the Z313 system a shot. You're ears with thank you.
Pricing and availability:
Amazon: $36.19
B&H Photo Video: $36.99
Tiger Direct: $39.99
